Livingstone, MIT Continue to Win Late

Oct 12, 2010

Cambridge, Mass. –The MIT women's soccer team continued
their penchant for scoring late to win games. With one minute and
ten seconds left in a hard fought battle on Tuesday afternoon, Merricka
Livingstone delivered a gem of a goal to lift the Engineers
over visiting Salem State College by a 1-0 score. MIT collected its
ninth shutout of the season, one shy of the team record, in front
of a small but enthusiastic crowd.

The non-conference tilt looked like it was headed for extra time
when the Engineer's winning surge started with three minutes to
play. With the teams still knotted at zero, Vikings defender Taylor
Orlando was sent off with a straight red card for an elbow to the
face of Emily Kuo.

Though Orlando was dismissed, Kuo was able to stay on the pitch
and as the clock ticked down, found Livingstone streaking down the
right side. With an incredible curl to the far corner, Livingstone
found the back of the net from 30 yards out. The game winning tally
was the first goal of the season for Livingstone and Kuo picked up
her seventh assist of the season as MIT grabbed the victory right
at the death.

Livingstone now has tallied four points in the last two games,
contributing assists on two goals by Kuo Saturday in the victory
over Wheaton College before Kuo returned the favor Tuesday.

Neither team could really claim a chance in the first half, with
each side firing just one shot on goal, though MIT clearly had the
better of the possession. Andrea
Park sailed in a free kick that was grabbed by Salem State
goalie Lauren Garchinsky, while Meghan Wright had no trouble with a
shot right down her throat from Orlando.

The second half saw the game open up somewhat and the hosts
continued to control the time of possession without capitalizing.
With 23 minutes left in the game, Lauren
Hernley fired a shot that was always rising and sailed just
over the crossbar. Just over five minutes from full time, the ball
fell to the foot of Andrea Park from a corner kick. The sophomore
defender drilled the ball at the Salem State goal, but Garchinsky
needed only to step to her right to snatch it out of the air and
the game stayed goalless.

Thanks to her two saves and the continued incredible play of the
MIT backline, Meghan
Wright collected her eighth shutout of the season, just one shy
of the individual record for the school. The Vikings back
four also played well in front of Garchinsky, who made four saves.
Amanda James and company shut down NEWMAC scoring leader Alisha
Lussiez and Cassandra Ceri, who gave MIT good time as a
substitute attacking mid.

MIT will play its final home contest on Saturday afternoon. The
Engineers will face Mount Holyoke and try to improve their overall
(10-2) and NEWMAC (4-1) records. The Vikings fall to 4-8-1 and will
try to get their first MASCAC victory (0-4) Saturday when they host
Westfield State College.